Britain was Near a Revolution in 1914

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Britain was Near a Revolution in 1914

It was suggested that Britain was close to a revolution by George

Dangerfield, the reason given was that the Liberal Government had been

unable to face problems posed by, the growth of militancy, Home Rule

for Ireland, Trade Union unrest and House of Lords. Added to this, the

growing international situations and the threat of war and it could be

true to say that, through the Liberal Governments inability to solve

these problems, Britain may have been close to revolution.

The growth of militancy and votes for women had developed through

1900, and the Liberal government had been placed under considerable

pressure, to pass a franchise Bill. When the suffragettes turned to

violent militant tactics, yet more pressure was put on the government

to take action. Although the threat of the violent tactics was

serious, the suffrage movement was a small group when compared to the

many millions of members of trade Unions, so the threat of revolution

by a group of women, only wanting to vote was very small.

The questions of Home rule for Ireland, on the other hand was a

serious threat of revolution, especially when the North and South

created paramilitary groups and armed them. With the North threatening

to march on Ulster if Home Rule was passed, and the South threatening

to attack if it was not passed, the Liberal Government faced a very

serious problem, that had divided their party in 1886, and which would

have troubled any government. It was clear that the Liberal government

was trying to prevent a revolution in Ireland, by trying to please

both sides. Another reason for the Government to be very troubled

about Ireland was the 'Curragh Mutiny' where British Army soldiers

refused to march on Irish armies, if necessary, this caused the

government to feel unsafe about security of Britain. Ireland was the

largest worry for the government and the largest threat for a

revolution, taking into account the Easter Rising, and if the Liberal

Government had passed Home Rule there would have been a revolution

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